migrant passerine flock, san juans, COLORADO (1 Viewer)

[dominic.patagonia]

Curious if anyone can identify what sp. this large flock is? Didnt have binoculars - was hiking in San Juan range, SW Colorado, i believe it was summit of Sneffels peak, so it's quite high - around 14,000 feet, second week september.
One pic attached plus a few more here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/27058465@N04/albums/72157660677499951

Good birding.
Dom

 

[Nutcracker]

Probably impossible, but I'll hazard a guess at Horned Larks.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Probably impossible, but I'll hazard a guess at Horned Larks.

cute guess

 

[dominic.patagonia]

Probably impossible, but I'll hazard a guess at Horned Larks.

Yeah its a long shot. Was hoping some locals might chime in. |:d| I'm on the east coast. But there aren't that many options for huge flocks over the rockies, one of which could indeed be horned lark, although i've never seen flocks this large. These birds dont look like icterids to me. Other option might be mountain or western bluebirds - I've seen huge winter flocks of the former in AZ.

 

[Tiraya]

What direction were they going? Might help determine if its a summer bird going south or a winter bird going north.

Horned lark is a reasonable suggestion given the shape and tail of these birds, as well as social flocking behaviour, but hard to be sure.

 

[chris butterworth]

Horned Lark looks good on shape and some appear to have a cleanly marked black throat ( although that could easily be shadow ).

 

[Kratter]

Horned Lark was my first guess as well before i looked at the responses.

Andy

 

[dominic.patagonia]

Theyre heading south-ish, but horned larks could be moving in multiple directions in the mountains. However, I think it was a pretty solid guess by Nutcracker. thanks!